According to the BBC, Mr Ashley has now agreed to appear before the business, innovation and skills select committee to answer questions about working conditions at his company’s headquarters on Tuesday, after previously saying he was pulling out.

He has been refusing to appear before the committee since March and had said he wouldn’t be attending the scheduled meeting with MPs this week because his lawyer, Richard Gordon QC, was unavailable.

We will have the full story shortly.

17:09Tom Eden

This evening's weather forecast

Judging by the weather forecast, there’s still a few hours of sunshine left to enjoy, which is nice as it’s time to wrap up today’s live blog.

We’ll be back first thing tomorrow (6.30am, to be precise) with more breaking news, traffic and travel.

(**Update - that pub-garden pint will have to wait, we’ve just had some breaking news about Mike Ashley**)

(Image: Met Office)

Top StoryKEY EVENT

Armed, balaclava-clad raiders attack three men in Benwell home

Armed raiders wearing balaclavas attacked three men when they stormed a Newcastle home this morning.

Police are appealing for information about the aggravated burglary, which happened in Benwell.

Two masked men forced their way into the Bond Court property armed with a hammer and metal bar and assaulted three men, two 18-year-olds and a 21-year-old who were inside.

Two of the victims needed hospital treatment but their injuries are not believed to be life threatening, say police.

Beverly Knight's Sage concert cancelled

Brexit is a 'gamble with our security' — ex-police chiefs

Former police chiefs have warned quitting the European Union will make Britain less safe and urged voters not to “gamble with our security”.

In an open letter, they insisted a Brexit would put the country at a disadvantage in the fight against terrorism and organised crime.

The group, which includes two former Metropolitan Police commissioners and an ex-president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said claims the UK is more vulnerable if it remains a member lack credibility, arguing that “all the evidence” shows the opposite.

Shopkeeper taken to hospital after robbery

A shopkeeper has been taken to hospital after robbers threw a substance in his face.

The robbery happened at 7am in Adelaide News in Adelaide Terrace in the west end of Newcastle.

Two men went into the store and threatened a member of shop staff before throwing a substance at his face.

He has been to hospital for treatment and his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The men made off with a till which has subsequently been recovered by police.

Officers say they are carrying out inquiries and are appealing for witnesses. It’s believed quite a few cars passed the newsagents around the time of the incident and police are keen for any passing motorists to get in contact.

North East MEPs in an EU debate

The event at Queen Elizabeth High School, in Hexham , saw politicians from the Leave and Remain camps being grilled by locals.

North East Labour MEP Jude Kirton-Darling and Hexham MP Guy Opperman were stating the case to remain, while UKIP MEP Jonathan Arnott and Britain for Business representative Andy Saunders argued for Brexit.

Last surviving Newcastle Normandy veterans at remembrance service

Sacrifices made by Normandy war heroes were remembered at an emotional ceremony in Newcastle.

The last three surviving members of the Newcastle and District branch of the Normandy Veterans Association laid up their standard during the event at St Andrew’s Church.

The group had more than 200 members when it first began in the early 1980s but many have now passed away.

The remaining members - Gordon Hornsby, 92, Stan Dobson, 91, and Cecil Booth, 90 - decided to formally hand over their flag into the custody of the church on Sunday.

The service, led by Rev Canon Glyn Evans, was also attended by other Normandy veterans who were not part of the association as well as Newcastle’s Lord Mayor, Coun Hazel Stephenson, and Major Bill Campbell, joint chairman of the North Tyneside Veterans Committee, who helped to organise it.

Participants embarked on the 5km route around Aykley Heads in pristine hospice t-shirts but, thanks to an army of volunteer paint throwers, it was not long before they were sporting every colour of the rainbow.

This year, as well as being covered in bright powder paint, the runners and walkers had the option to take on obstacles, including a water slide, hay bales and cargo nets.

Pyjama-clad teen in Byker chase denies gun and assault charges

Alliyah Jackson, 18, was in the dock to face three offences stemming from an incident in March which is alleged to have involved an imitation handgun and a pyjama-clad pursuit of a man in Byker.

The teenager, of Linnetsfield in Walker, Newcastle, appeared in the dock at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday, where she pleaded not guilty to possessing an imitation firearm with the intention of causing fear of violence.

She also denied threatening another with an offensive weapon which was a knuckle-duster, and a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The initial report of the incident claimed a man smashed the window of a silver Toyota Yaris that was parked near to the Raby pub on Shields Road and that the occupants of the car - a man and a woman wearing pyjamas - chased after him, with witnesses reportedly seeing a small firearm of some kind.

A leopard has been stolen from Whitley Bay

On Friday, May 13, the man - who does not want to be named - discovered the stuffed big cat was missing from his animal collection.

He reckons the leopard - believed to be worth between £4,500 and £5,000 - was swiped by some plumbers who entered his home a year ago when his wife could not get the central heating to work.

13:10Tom Eden

No longer safe to drive across to Holy Island

The Holy Island crossing is no longer safe to use. It should be passable once again at around 7.50pm.

13:06Tom Eden

This afternoon's weather forecast

(Image: Met Office)

The weather is forecast to really brighten up this afternoon, which is nice!

12:53Tom Eden

AC Omonoia Nicosia statement on John Carver

In a statement released on the club’s website this morning, AC Omonoia Nicosia announced Carver will break off his holiday in America to link up with club and start preparing for the new season.

It read:

“Our Association announces that it has agreed with the 51-year-old English coach, John William Carver, to take over the coaching of our team.

“Mr Carver is in America for personal reasons, but will break his journey to begin work immediately to our team, to start preparing for the new season.

“Mr Carver worked at Newcastle, where he served as head coach, and assistant coach, next top coaches like Bobby Robson and Alan Pardew. He also worked at Leeds United, Toronto FC and Sheffield United.”

Carver has been a high-profile presence in the media this season, appearing on Sky and BT. But he has never made any secret about his desire to get back into coaching.

12:46Tom Eden

Roadworks have overran on the Central Motorway

There are delays, and queueing traffic on the A167 in both directions between A184 Charles Street and A184 Askew Road.

This is apparently due to the roadworks on the central motorway, which have overran, causing the congestion.

12:43Tom Eden

John Carver has returned to management

Carver has been out of the game since departing United at the end of last season but he has now agreed to take over the Cypriot side, who finished four in the top flight last year. With a 22,859 capacity stadium and 20 league titles to their name, they are one of the biggest clubs in the county and slug it out with city rivals APOEL for supremacy in Cyprus.

They are in the Europa League for next season, and will compete in the first qualifying round on June 30. Former United player Nikos Dabizas is the club’s sporting director and now they have another Newcastle link – with Carver starting a new coaching adventure.

12:38Tom Eden

Paul Gascoigne set to be charged over alleged 'racial' joke

Footballer Paul Gascoigne is set to be charged over an alleged racial joke during a live show.

The former England star, who has struggled with alcohol problems for years, has been summoned to appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court on June 17 when he will be formally charged with the alleged offence.

Gazza was investigated for mocking a black security guard during a Q&A show in Wolverhampton last November.

Police received a complaint and investigated the former England, Newcastle United , Spurs and Everton star.

But the Crown Prosecution Service initially decided not to take any further action over the alleged hate crime.

12:34Tom Eden

Queues in Gateshead roadworks

There’s queueing traffic on the A1 northbound between Coalhouse Roundabout and the A184 (Dunston Interchange), caused by the roadworks there.

12:23Tom Eden

Rubbish on fire in Gateshead

Firefighters have put out a blaze in Gateshead:

12:20Tom Eden

19 sexual assaults on North East public transport

More than a dozen people have been sexually abused on public transport so far this year, figures have revealed.

Felling Metro Station

Northumbria Police received 19 reports of sexual assaults on public transport in the first three-and-a-half months of 2016, but the force says the numbers are “relatively low” compared to the amount of passengers using the network.

Information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveals that between January and April 13, 2016, there were 19 reports of sexual assaults on the public transport. The figures include buses, Metros, trains, stations as well as incidents at bus stops.

In the whole of 2015, there were 37 reports of sexual assault on the transport network in Northumbria Police’s area, with 29 in 2014 and 21 in 2013.

Finds out which areas of the North East the attacks have happenedhere.